More and more bereaved families are turning down requests to donate a deceased relative’s organs.
The drop comes as NHS Blood and Transplant statistics show the number of people in need of a transplant is at a 10-year high.
The Mirror successfully campaigned for a law change to “deemed consent” in England from 2020 but bereaved families have the final say. And the annual NHSBT transplant activity report has now shown the UK consent rate fell to 61% in 2023/24, down from 69% four years ago.
READ MORE: Georgia Toffolo's £33 Pai cleanser she repurchases monthly that 'gets every scrap of makeup off'
The NHSBT report outlined reasons relatives give for vetoing donation. Just over a fifth said the patient had expressed a wish not to donate.
However 16% said no because they felt the process took too long, up from 12.7% the previous year.
Lesley Clarke of Lincoln agreed to donate the organs of her partner Richard Still when he died in 2022. She said: “One of his corneas helped save someone’s sight. I had a lovely letter from the patient, saying what a difference it made. It made it real.”
NHSBT said it was vital that all those who agree to donation make their decision known.
They can reinforce the message by signing the NHS Organ Donor Register. More information is available at organdonation.nhs.uk
READ MORE: Apple iPhone 16: Best pre-order deals including Sky's half-price data and iD Mobile plan
You may also like
Bhupinder Hooda dubs BJP's manifesto for Haryana polls as "copy-paste of Congress'"
Article 370 a history now; India won't bring it back: Sukanta Majumdar over Pak minister's statement
Israel launches intensive airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon: Military sources
Jharkhand moves contempt plea against Centre in SC for delay in appointing CJ